Two tier venetian blind

Abstract

A two tier venetian blind comprises an upper and a lower tier of slats suspended from a blind control mechanism; a front upper control cord and a back upper control cord for tilting the upper tier of slats; a front lower control cord and a back lower control cord for tilting the lower tier of slats; and a lift cord passing through a lift cord hole in each slat in the upper and lower tiers of slats. To avoid having the lower control cords hang when the blind is raised, the front lower control cord passes through the lift cord holes in each slat in the upper tier of slats and the back lower control cord passes around the back upper control cord at a plurality of points along the back upper control cord. In this way the lower control cords are gathered as the blind is raised.

We claim: 
     
       1. A two tier venetian blind comprising: a blind control mechanism;   an upper tier of slats suspended from said blind control mechanism;   a lower tier of slats suspended from said blind control mechanism below said upper tier of slats;   a front upper control cord and a back upper control cord operatively connected to only said upper tier of slats and to said blind control mechanism for tilting said upper tier of slats;   a front lower control cord and a back lower control cord operatively connected to only said lower tier of slats and to said blind control mechanism for tilting said lower tier of slats; and   a lift cord passing through a lift cord hole in each slat in said upper and lower tiers of slats, said lift cord operatively connected to the blind control mechanism at its top end and attached at its bottom end to the bottom slat in said lower tier of slats such that said blind control mechanism may be operated to draw said lift cord up, thereby raising firstly said lower tier of slats and then said upper tier of slats;   wherein said front lower control cord passes through said lift cord holes in each slat in said upper tier of slats; and   wherein said back lower control cord passes around said back upper control cord at a plurality of points along said back upper control cord.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each slat of said upper tier of slats rests on an upper cross cord attached between said front and back upper control cords and wherein each slat of said lower tier of slats rests on a lower cross cord attached between said front and back lower control cords. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said lift cord and said front lower control cord are positioned on opposite sides of said upper cross cords as they pass through said upper slats. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said back lower control cord passes around said back upper control cord at every fourth slat in said upper tier of slats. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said back lower control cord passes around said back upper control cord at every fourth slat in said upper tier of slats.